Rebecca Rosenberg’s Gold Digger: The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor is the rags-to-riches-to-rags true story of Lizzie “Baby Doe” Tabor. Set against the rough and tumble Colorado silver and gold rush in the late 1800s, Gold Digger brings history to life, portraying Baby Doe as a smart, strong-willed woman fighting to survive in tumultuous times. The author vividly describes the hardships of life in the frontier towns of Colorado, the capriciousness of mining for riches, and the indomitable spirit of Baby Doe as she navigates the fortunes and misfortunes of life in such a harsh environment. Weathering a disastrous first marriage, the loss of a child, the collapse of the silver market, and the scorn of society, Baby Doe Tabor’s strength and determination leap off the page. Add this extraordinary book to your TBR list. It’s a must-read.

American historical fiction is not my preferred genre. While Rosenberg does provide plenty of historical context about the development of the western frontier throughout the story, the book is more about the trails of the characters. We are given a glimpse to the grit and determination of Doe Tabor as she struggled to find her way. We see how she both dismissed and embraced her beauty to succeed. We see characters who weren't afraid to make decisions and how they both reaped and suffered as a result of those actions. It was interesting to read how Senator Tabor initiated such a building boom in Colorado. Rosenberg's writing style is easy to digest and she includes excerpts from Doe Tabor's diary throughout which is a nice touch.

Ah, I've been trying to read this book for the last few days. I've struggled mightily with it.

The book is dialog-driven, and the author depends on the dialog to further the story, instead of using descriptions in sentences and paragraphs. It's very hard for me to keep track of who's saying what. The book is also historical fiction, which is fine for characters who never existed, but when writing about real people, I find it disingenuous to put words in their mouths and attribute actions to them that they might or might not have ever said or done. This is a story, but not THE story of the Tabors.

If you want to know the real story of the Tabors, read a biography about them. If you want a fanciful story about some people named "Tabor", this is the book for you.

I give the author credit for writing a book, which I imagine is a hard thing to do. Baby Doe Tabor was a fascinating character, and there are other books that tell her real story.

Thank you to the author for gifting me a digital ARC of this title in via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was fortunate enough to also receive an ARC of Rosenberg's title The Secret Life of Mrs London, my first title to read from this author. I really enjoyed it and found it to be well written and quite interesting, I was therefore really excited when the author gifted me her newest title for review. I had never heard of Baby Doe and knew very little of the gold and silver mines of Colorado. This title was also well researched and informative. There was a nice backstory included on Baby Doe and on Horace Tabor before they meet that helps you to learn about their own personalities, histories, strengths and weaknesses. I was not personally as interested in this story as I was in Mrs London's, but I still enjoyed reading the title and felt like I learned quite a bit from reading this. Ms. Rosenberg is a talented writer weaving history into a fictional story that is enjoyable to read. I would definitely recommend her to those interested in historical fiction and look forward to seeing what other titles she creates in the future.

Epic love story. Fantastic depiction of late 1800s-early 1900s gold rush in Colorado. I was not familiar with Baby Doe Tabor but after reading this book I want to find out more about her life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a woman determined to be independent and ask questions and stand up for herself.

It was a wild time in history, but also opulence and riches beyond compare for the lucky few. Baby Doe experiences everything from infidelity, miscarriage, betrayal, abandonment, crooks and more and swears off men and marriage.

When Horace Tabor meets Baby Doe, sparks fly (pun intended) and their love story is based on true admiration and respect. They both have big hearts and faith in human nature and each other.

I am thrilled to have discovered this California author and can’t wait to read the sequel!

Rebecca Rosenberg has brought history to life in this un...put...down...able book about Baby Doe Tabor! This is the genre of book that I love to read and I was thrilled with the opportunity to read an ARC copy! This fascinating woman in American history, particularly Colorado history, was beautiful, determined, strong and most of all a survivor. She endured the gamut of difficulties that life and society threw at her because of her strong will and the love she had for Horace Tabor.
Ms. Rosenberg has captured the essence and beauty not only of Baby Doe but also of Colorado. The descriptions she writes are so vivid and incredible. I grew up in Colorado with my dad taking me to many old ghost towns in the mountains and this book brought all those places to life as bustling, crowded places that brought miners in search of their fortunes in their hunt for silver and gold. From the clear, blue skies and streams to the scents of the pines. From the hardships and reality of what mining entailed to the high society of the Denver elites, I was living this tale of ups and downs with Baby Doe.

Ms. Rosenberg built this book upon the real life of Baby Doe Tabor and the history surrounding her. It's a wonderful "look" at who she was. The research, the history, the background to the characters is all brought together in a magnificent book that reads like it could be made into a top rated movie. I didn't want the book to end. I wanted more of Baby Doe and to my surprise! There is going to be a sequel! Silver Dollar! I will be waiting with great anticipation for what happens next in Baby Doe's life!

This book exceeded all my expectations and gave me an adventure back in history that I will never forget. I love Colorado. I love the rich history of that state. Ms. Rosenberg brought all that to me in this book plus so much more. I loved the adventure!

There are passages that are so profound and speak of the talent Ms. Rosenberg has at expressing the written word.
"The Matchless was a symbol of everything they stood for; tenacity, courage, and most of all, luck. Was that why he never let it go? He kept it for her."
"Love is like a wild horse, impossible to tame," she said. "The horse takes you places you never thought you'd go. But if you hold on tight, it always leads you home."

This is the second book by Ms. Rosenberg that I've read and highly recommend both. The first one is The Secret Life of Mrs. London. I am so looking forward to her next book, too! I want to thank Ms. Rosenberg for the honor of reading her amazing novel! I would give it way more than 5 stars if possible and I highly recommend her books

I have read other novels with these characters, but none with Baby Doe Tabor as the main character. It was refreshing to read, her life coming alive on the pages as it swept me along the arc of her life. From a poor family in Wisconsin, she marries a miner’s son, who turns out to be a wretched husband. Based on her diaries, the author gives life to the character of Lizzie/Baby Doe and fleshes out the late 19th Century atmosphere of Colorado. Her union and eventual marriage with Horace Tabor is really the heart of the novel, and it was an interesting portrayal of the pair. Baby Doe is a worthy heroine.

The only times the book didn’t sweep me along were the few times it lurched into florid prose and the intersection with one-dimensional supporting characters. There was so much life in the main people of the story that it made some of the minor characters fade away. Despite the few flaws, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to her next book that will take the story forward to Baby Doe’s post-Tabor life with her two daughters.

Women of the wild west...you won't want to miss this one. Her rags-to-riches and back to rags again story made her a well-known figure in her own day, and inspired an opera and a Hollywood movie based on her life...that's Elizabeth McCourt known as Baby Doe.

Born in Oshkosh, Wisc; married and moved to Colorado. She divorced him for drinking, gambling, frequenting brothels, and being unable to provide a living and he literally abandoned her. A strong women made her way and fell in love with Horance Taber, a wealthy silver magnate. From wealth to life of being destitute. An interesting period of time, a rough life for women and their struggles.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rosenberg does an excellent job of putting you right beside Baby Doe as she travels west to Colorado to help her husband strike it rich in the gold mines. When Harvey desserts his wife, Baby Doe does the unthinkable; she files for divorce. Her life has many ups and downs and then she falls in love with the wealthy, well known, Mr. Tabor. Again, she does the unacceptable, having an affair with a married man. After Horace Tabor divorces his wife, he marries Baby Doe and they have two daughters. An unusually strong woman who is not afraid to do the unaccept, Baby Doe will not be put down by anyone. There are many references to famous men and women who lived durring Baby Doe's lifetime.

This is a book about Baby Doe Tabor and her interesting life.She was a most unconventional woman for her time.She was beautiful and married a man from a wealthy family,moving to Colorado with her new husband to run a mining business.Without giving away the whole story,she shows herself to be a strong,determined woman.I have only given it 3 stars because it seemed a bit confusing at times.I understand that there is a sequel to this book,so I will read that when it's available.

I was fortunate to have received an electronic version of this book through Netgalley and the publishing company in exchange for an honest review.


This book is the definition of the saying love is pain and money doesn’t buy you everything. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this book before jumping into it. I think that my favorite thing about this book was the writing and the resilient Baby Doe. No matter what life threw at her, she never let it get her down. Not divorces, death, or poverty. I couldn’t help but really admire her, she was so strong and I loved the privilege to have read a character who took everything in stride and did what she had to do. In a time where all she received for her actions was hate.


The scenery described in this book was beyond amazing, I definitely very much enjoyed the writing style and the setting of the story. Everything flowed out perfectly and I was transported to the places. I hope to see what the author writes next and if we will be seeing more of baby dove.


I recommend this.

In 1878 we come across Lizzie Doe and her husband Harvey Doe. They are on the way to Colorado to work her father-in-law's goldmine. Desperate for money to save her family from poverty, she is looking forward to this adventure. Of course, she has no idea what she would find in Colorado, as she was coming from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. A strong women, much stronger than her husband Harvey, she endures and survives the struggles that come with mining. It is silver mining that sets the stage for this novel, along with her spirit, her "true grit." Along with betrayals, adultery, abandonment, and divorce, she was a survivor. For the times, she was non-conventional, wearing men's denims, plaid shirts and boots to work at the mines next to her then husband. As a divorcee, her reputation preceded her. But she was her own person and rose above it all.

In the course of this novel, we glimpse the past of Colorado, the mining towns with name such as Central City, Leadville, just to name a few. This historical novel shares with us the "rough and tumble" world of mining. The gold/silver rush, the lawlessness of those jumping claims and what it was like to live in the West in the 1800's. Times were such that one day you were rich, the next day you were dirt poor.

From start to finish this book was hard to put down. Wonderfully researched, enjoyably written, I await eagerly what comes next from Ms. Rosenberg.. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not really what i expected. The characters were good and the plot was following. I probably won't read another book by this author.

An exciting look into the past at the life of Lizzie "Baby Doe" Tabor. Lizzie is determined to help her family who has lost everything as a result of a fire. Taking her to Colorado on an adventure to prospect a gold mine, Lizzie has only just begun to know the hardships that she must endure to survive.. During numerous twists and turns, Lizzie stands strong throughout it all. Author, Rebecca Rosenberg, has written a novel that has given her readers a look at the life of Baby Doe and the desperate plight that a young girl's life has taken. I highly recommend this novel to those who love a mix of history, love and adventure. I can't wait to see what else author Rosenberg has in store!

I am so excited there is a sequel!!! I loved the strength of Baby Doe and the love between her and Horace. I am soo excited to see what’s next for the Tabor ladies

Rebecca Rosenberg brings the past alive with her prose. Gold Digger, The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor is based on the life of Elizabeth McCourt Doe Tabor and obviously a great deal of background research went into the writing of this historical novel. Gold Digger takes us to Colorado mining country with the arrival of newlyweds Harvey and 'Lizzy' Elizabeth McCourt Doe in Denver by rail in April of 1878. We see Baby Doe through years of trying to help Harvey cope with life in general and the expectations of his wealthy East Coast parents, his desertion and the birth and death of their son, divorce from Harvey despite her Catholic faith and the lifetime of censure from Colorado's social class.

We are with her also through much happier times, her later marriage to Horace and the birth of her two daughters, and watch as she copes with poverty, great wealth, and back to poverty, and the death of Husband #2, Horace Austin Warner Tabor in 1899.

Baby Doe Tabor was a remarkable woman, independent to a fault, kind and generous and a remarkable helpmate to both of the men in her life. Her travels through many of the mining towns in the Colorado mountains are so well described you feel like you have been there, at that time, in the cold or the warmth of the sun. And watching Denver grow into the transportation hub of the western Rocky Mountains is an exceptional experience as well.

I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Rebecca Rosenberg, Netgalley and IBPA Publisher Lion Heart in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

Money cannot buy happiness. An old saying that rings true in this tale of Baby Doe Tabor. A tale of love and tragedy. So often the two go together.

I had been fortunate in my life to have an Aunt living in the mountains above Boulder, Colorado. During numerous visits, she and her friend took me to Central City and many of the old mining towns in the area. Laura Lou Lincoln, my aunt's friend, taught my oldest children how to pan for gold. I can therefore relate to this tale of miners, strife and those who struck it rich in the mines of Colorado.

Horace Tabor was one who rode the mining boon in silver. Wealth brought him fame, but not love. Until he met Elizabeth McCourt Doe. Revered for her beauty and work ethnics, the miners nicknamed her Baby Doe and the name stuck. Abandoned by her husband, Baby Doe sought for and obtained an divorce. Unheard of in the era of the late 1800s. Also unheard of in that time was a man married for twenty years who sought the love of Baby Doe over his wife. Horace Tabor finds a way and mines Baby Doe's heart.

Gold Digger thus takes you on a roller coaster ride of opulence, scandal, heartbreak and resiliency. Enjoy the ride.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Gold Digger. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well, this one was quite the tale! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was the first historical fiction that I have read in a while that REALLY inspired me to do some research of my own. I became practically obsessed with all things "Baby Doe". I know that much of the book is pure embellishment on the factual timeline, but it was all so interesting that I found myself fact checking about halfway through and especially after completion--wondering how much was based in truth and what the additions were! I really wanted to hate Baby Doe, but this novel was well written and her character just did not seem to deserve that. I not only read but also absorbed this book...and I will anxiously await the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Rebecca Rosenberg for the ARC!

It’s not often I find or read books about that era between the American Civil War and World War I, so it was a happy surprise that I stumbled into reading Gold Digger:The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor.

In Gold Digger, you fall into the life of Lizzie aka Baby Doe. Baby has just been married and is off to Colorado with her new husband in the hopes of striking in big with gold mining. Things don’t go as planned, and Baby Doe finds herself husband- and child-less. What’s worse is the hate many of the townswomen are spewing on her as she fights to take care of herself and forge her own path ahead. In the end, she may find that money isn’t the most important driver in life.

Baby Doe was one of my favorite characters of the many, many books I’ve read, and what’s even cooler is that she’s modeled after a real life woman. She is smart and strong-willed and expects no less from herself than what is expected of men, which is odd for that time period. She’s a dreamer, and unafraid to provide ideas and opinions. Throughout her struggles, she fights to stay true to herself. What an inspiration for women of any age!

If you like what you’ve heard so far, be sure to add Gold Digger: The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor to you reading list; it will be available on May 28th. I’m giving this five stars, and I’m telling you, you don’t want to miss out on this woman’s trials and tribulations!

**Thank you to Rebecca Rosenberg and Netgalley for providing with a copy of this e-book. I’ve voluntarily read this book and the review expresses my own personal opinion.**

What an incredible woman Baby Doe Tabor was. This book told of the mining and growth in the Colorado territory and how Baby Doe and Horace Tabor navigated all the ups and downs it brought. This is the reason I love historical fiction - through books you learn about history in an more personal and entertaining way. It is not just facts, there is more to the story than facts, it is real people and their struggles that paved the way for life today. A very good read, and I am thrilled that there is a sequel in the works. I want to know what happens next in Baby Doe's life!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book. This is my honest review.